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C3.ai vs. Palantir: Which Enterprise AI Stock Should You Pick Now?
ZACKSยท 2025-07-14 16:51
Core Insights - C3.ai, Inc. and Palantir Technologies Inc. are leading players in the enterprise AI sector, each with distinct strategies for serving government and large corporate clients [1] - C3.ai focuses on providing a wide range of turnkey AI applications, while Palantir emphasizes building autonomous AI agents for complex workflows [7][8] C3.ai Overview - C3.ai has developed over 130 turnkey AI applications aimed at addressing real-world business challenges, including predictive maintenance and fraud detection [2] - The C3 AI Agentic Platform underpins these applications, facilitating rapid deployment and value delivery across various industries [3] - Strategic partnerships with major cloud providers like Microsoft Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud enhance C3.ai's market reach and scalability [4] - Collaborations with consulting firms such as McKinsey QuantumBlack and PwC aim to leverage domain expertise alongside C3.ai's AI capabilities, promoting enterprise adoption [5] - C3.ai is commercializing its Agentic AI capabilities, with over 100 solutions deployed in sectors like defense and government, positioning this area as a key growth driver [6] Palantir Overview - Palantir's Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) is designed to enable full enterprise autonomy, shifting focus from augmenting human productivity to creating independent AI agents [7] - AIP integrates large language models with real business outcomes, allowing organizations to deploy AI agents that optimize decision-making across various sectors [8] - Palantir's AI agents have been successfully implemented in defense and intelligence applications, showcasing capabilities in real-time decision-making [10] - The platform has also demonstrated flexibility in commercial applications, improving workflow efficiency for companies like AIG and Walgreens [12] - Despite strong growth, Palantir faces challenges in international markets, particularly in Europe, where AI adoption is slower [14] Price Performance - C3.ai's stock has increased by 31.7% over the past three months, while Palantir's shares have surged by 44.4% during the same period [15] Valuation - C3.ai is trading at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 7.24X, significantly below its three-year median of 8.33X and the industry average of 18.26X [19] - In contrast, Palantir's forward sales multiple stands at 74.39X, above its three-year median of 16.02X, indicating a higher valuation compared to C3.ai [19] Earnings Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for C3.ai's fiscal 2026 loss per share has narrowed to 37 cents, while the estimate for fiscal 2027 has improved to 16 cents [22] - For Palantir, the consensus estimate for 2025 earnings per share has declined to 58 cents, and for 2026, it has decreased to 72 cents [24] Conclusion - C3.ai appears to be in a stronger position due to its focused execution as a pure-play enterprise AI provider, with a strategic emphasis on ready-to-deploy applications and strong partnerships [26] - Palantir remains a significant player but faces challenges in commercial traction and international growth, particularly in Europe [27]
C3.ai(AI) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-05-28 22:02
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for Q4 reached $108.7 million, reflecting a 26% increase compared to $86.6 million in the same quarter of the prior year [41] - Subscription revenue for the quarter was $87.3 million, up 9% from $79.9 million a year ago [41] - For the full fiscal year 2025, total revenue was $389.1 million, a 25% increase compared to $310.6 million in fiscal 2024 [42] - Non-GAAP gross profit for Q4 was $75.2 million, equating to a gross margin of approximately 69% [41] - Non-GAAP operating loss was $31.2 million, which was within the guidance range of $30 million to $40 million [41] - Free cash flow for Q4 was $10.3 million, with cash, cash equivalents, and investments totaling $742.7 million at the end of the quarter [41][68] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue from the sale of software licenses that are demonstration versions of C3AI applications was $33.8 million during the quarter [64] - Professional services revenue was $21.4 million, with prioritized engineering services accounting for $17 million [65] - Non-Baker Hughes revenue grew by 37% year over year during the quarter and by 40% during the year [65] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Non-oil and gas revenue increased by 48% year over year, reflecting successful expansion into 19 different industries [44] - Revenue in state and local government grew over 100% in fiscal 2025, with 71 agreements closed across organizations in 24 states [45] - The life sciences and healthcare sector is emerging as a strength, with traction from customers like GSK and Quest Diagnostics [46] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company has focused on building a robust partner ecosystem, with 73% of agreements delivered in collaboration with partners [48] - Strategic partnerships with Microsoft, AWS, and Google Cloud are pivotal for expanding market reach and enhancing execution [49] - The renewed partnership with Baker Hughes is expected to drive innovation and opportunity in the energy sector [44] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the growth trajectory, expecting revenue growth to continue exceeding expense growth [71] - The company anticipates crossing into non-GAAP profitability during the second half of fiscal 2027 and expects to be free cash flow positive in Q4 of fiscal 2026 [71] - The enterprise AI market is described as a vast and growing opportunity, with a focus on delivering secure, scalable, and production-grade solutions [59] Other Important Information - The company has delivered over 130 applications to date, positioning itself uniquely in the AI landscape [60] - The C3 generative AI revenue grew more than 100% in FY 2025, with significant deployments across various industries [56] - The company holds a patent for Agentic AI, which is expected to capitalize on a rapidly growing market [29] Q&A Session Summary Question: How does the company activate Azure sales reps to deliver C3AI? - The company is focusing on engaging Azure sales reps through joint sales calls and providing them with the necessary tools to demonstrate solutions effectively [73][75] Question: Can you provide details on the economics of the new Baker Hughes deal? - Specifics are under NDA, but the partnership has broadened significantly, continuing to provide solutions and enabling Baker Hughes to develop derivative works [82] Question: How did the company construct its revenue guidance for FY26? - The guidance reflects awareness of geopolitical risks and the need for stability, with expectations that revenue growth will continue to exceed expense growth [85]
C3.ai(AI) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-05-28 22:00
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for Q4 reached $108.7 million, reflecting a 26% increase compared to $86.6 million in the same quarter of the prior year [42] - Subscription revenue for the quarter was $87.3 million, up 9% from $79.9 million a year ago [42] - For the full fiscal year 2025, total revenue was $389.1 million, a 25% increase compared to $310.6 million in fiscal 2024 [43] - Non-GAAP operating loss was $31.2 million, which was within the guidance range of $30 million to $40 million [42][67] - Free cash flow for the quarter was $10.3 million, and the company closed Q4 with $742.7 million in cash, cash equivalents, and investments [42][68] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Subscription and prioritized engineering services revenue totaled $104.4 million, representing 96% of total revenue and a 22% increase from $85.7 million in Q4 of the previous year [42][66] - Revenue from the sale of demonstration software licenses was $33.8 million during the quarter [64] - Non-Baker Hughes revenue grew by 37% year over year during the quarter and by 40% during the year [65] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Non-oil and gas revenue increased by 48% year over year, reflecting successful expansion into 19 different industries [45] - Revenue in state and local government grew over 100% in fiscal 2025, with 71 agreements closed across organizations in 24 states [46] - The life sciences and healthcare sector is emerging as a strength, with traction from customers like GSK and Quest Diagnostics [47] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company has focused on building a robust partner ecosystem, with 73% of agreements delivered in collaboration with partners, resulting in a 68% increase in agreements closed through this network [49] - The renewed partnership with Baker Hughes is expected to drive innovation and opportunity in the energy sector, generating over $5 billion in revenue from this vertical [44] - The company is strategically positioned to capitalize on the growing market for AI applications, with a focus on delivering secure, scalable, and production-grade solutions [60] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in crossing into non-GAAP profitability during the second half of fiscal 2027, with expectations of free cash flow positivity in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 [71] - The company anticipates continued revenue growth exceeding expense growth, driven by a robust suite of enterprise AI applications and an expanding partner ecosystem [71] - Management highlighted the importance of geopolitical stability for achieving revenue guidance, acknowledging risks in Europe and global trade [71] Other Important Information - The company has delivered over 130 applications to date, with 95% of bookings in fiscal 2025 driven by AI applications [61] - The company holds a patent for Agentic AI, positioning it uniquely in the market as the only enterprise AI application pure play [30] Q&A Session Summary Question: How does the company activate Azure sales reps to deliver C3 AI? - The company is focusing on engaging Azure sales reps through joint sales calls and providing them with the necessary tools to demonstrate solutions effectively [73][75] Question: Can you provide insights on the new Baker Hughes deal? - The specifics are under NDA, but the partnership has broadened significantly, continuing to provide solutions and enabling Baker Hughes to develop derivative works [82] Question: How was the revenue guidance for FY26 constructed? - The guidance reflects awareness of geopolitical risks and the need for stability, with a larger range due to potential market fluctuations [85]